Alagiri too busy flying

Union Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister M. K. Alagiri who has been criticised in Parliament for his prolonged absence during the ongoing budget session has, in fact, been flying off to Chennai or Madurai every third day.

Union Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister M. K. Alagiri who has been criticised in Parliament for his prolonged absence during the ongoing budget session has, in fact, been flying off to Chennai or Madurai every third day.

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Chennai is his home town, where his father DMK chief M. Karunanidhi lives, and Madurai is his constituency.

In the six months since he was sworn in on May 2009, the minister made 61 flights to or from Chennai and Madurai, according to an RTI reply provided by the department of fertilisers in his ministry.

He undertook 61 domestic and six international flights between May 29 and December 1, 2009 at a cost of about Rs 14.5 lakh, according to the response.